Judge quashes restrictions on Muslim convert

A control order on a British convert to Islam was quashed yesterday when a high court judge ruled there was no "reasonable suspicion" that he intended to take part in terrorism abroad.

MI5 had alleged that the restriction of movement measures were necessary because Cerie Bullivant, 25, of Dagenham, Essex, could be planning to travel to Iraq or Afghanistan to join up with terrorists.

Mr Justice Collins quashed the order, which was made last year to replace an order made in June 2006.

The first order was triggered when Bullivant was stopped at Heathrow as he was about to fly to Syria. He had been travelling with Ibrahim Adam, the brother of fertiliser bomb plotter Anthony Garcia, and said he intended to study Arabic.

The Security Service judged that he and Adam intended "to carry out extremist Islamic activity" - possibly intending to travel on to Iraq or Afghanistan to fight against western forces, or to conduct a "martyrdom operation".

Mr Justice Collins said it may have been reasonable to assume that individuals with whom Bullivant associated might have been involved in terrorism, but that did not make it reasonable to suspect he had the same inclinations. "The dangers of guilt by association are obvious."

Bullivant said outside court in a statement: "Although I am very happy that this order has now been lifted, this draconian legislation is still continuing to ruin the lives of others and their families."